"WhatLittleWilliewasexpecting，"heremarkedonce，tothekeenjoyofMr。Penzance，"wasahunkofbreadandcheeseatavillagesaloonsomewhere。Ioughttohavesaid`pub，’oughtn’tI？Youdon’tcallthemsaloonshere。"
　　Hewasencouragedtotalk，andinhiscare—freefluencyheopenedupmanyvistastotheinterestedMr。Penzance，whofoundhimself，sotospeak，whirledalongBroadway，rushedupthestepsoftheelevatedrailroadandstrugglingtoobtainaseat，orastraptohangtoonaSixthAvenuetrain。
　　Themanwassaturatedwiththeatmosphereofthehotbattlehelivedin。Fromhischildhoodhehadknownnothingbutthefeverheatofhis"littleoldNewYork，"ashecalleditwithaffectionateslanginess，andanytemperaturelowerthanthathewasaccustomedtowouldhavestruckhimasbeingbelownormal。Penzancewasimpressedbyhisfeelingofaffectionfortheamazingcityofhisbirth。Headmired，headoredit，heboastedjoyouslyofitsperfervidcharm。
　　"Somethingdoing，"hesaid。"That’swhatmysortofafellowlikes——somethingdoing。Youfeelitrighttherewhenyouwalkalongthestreets。LittleoldNewYorkformine。It’sgoodenoughforLittleWillie。Anditneverstops。Why，Broadwayatnight————"
　　Heforgothischop，andleanedforwardonthetabletopourforthhisdescription。Themanservant，standingbehindMountDunstan’schair，forgothimselfalso，thoughthewasatraineddomesticwhosedutyitwastopresentdishestotheattentionwithoutanyapparentmentalprocesses。Certainlyitwasnothisbusinesstolisten，andgazefascinated。Thishedid，however，actuallyforthetimeunconsciousofhisbreachofmanners。Theverycrudityofthelanguageused，theoddlysounding，sometimesnoteasilytranslatableslangphrases，usedasiftheywereanecessarypartofanyconversation——theblunt，uneducatedbarenessoffigure——seemedtoPenzancetomakemoreroughlyvividthepicturedashedoff。
　　Thebroadthoroughfarealmostasthrongedbynightasbyday。Crowdsgoingtotheatres，loadedelectriccars，whizzingandclangingbells，theelevatedrailroadrushingandroaringpastwithinhearing，theatrefrontsflamingwithelectriclight，announcementsofnamesoftheatricalstarsandtheplaystheyappearedin，electriclightadvertisementsofbrandsofcigars，whiskies，breakfastfoods，allblazinghighinthenightairinsuchnumberandwithsuchstrengthofbrilliancythatthewholethoroughfarewasasbrightwithlightasaballroomoratheatre。Thevicarfelthimselfstandinginthemidstofitall，blindedbytheglare。
　　"Sitdownonthesidewalkandreadyournewspaper，abook，amagazine——anyoldthingyoulike，"withanexultantlaugh。
　　ThenamesofthedramaticstarsblazingoverentrancestothetheatreswereoftenEnglishnames，theirplaysEnglishplays，theircompaniesmadeupofEnglishmenandwomen。
　　G。SeldenwasasfamiliarwiththemandcommentedupontheirgiftsaseasilyasifhehaddrawnhisdramafromtheStrandinsteadoffromBroadway。Thenovelspiledupinthestationsofwhathecalled"theL"（whichrevealeditselfasbeingaNew—York—hasteabbreviationofElevatedrailroad），wereinlargeproportionEnglishnovels，andhehadhisingenuousestimateofEnglishnovelists，aswellasofallelse。
　　"Ruddy，now，"hesaid；"Ilikehim。He’sallright，eventhoughwehaven’tquitecaughtontoIndiayet。"
　　ThedazzleandbrilliancyofBroadwaysosurroundedPenzancethathefounditnecessarytowithdrawhimselfandreturntohisimmediatesurroundings，thathemightrecoverfromhissenseofinterestedbewilderment。HiseyesfelluponthesternlineamentsofaMountDunstaninacostumeofthetimeofHenryVIII。Hewasaburlygentleman，whoseruff—shortenedthickneckandhaughtyfixednessofstarefromthebackgroundofhisportraitweresuchasseemedtoeliminatehimfromtheschemeofthings，theclangingofelectriccars，andtheprevailingroaroftheL。
　　Confrontedbyhisgaze，electriclightadvertisementsofwhiskies，cigars，andcorsetsseemedimpossible。
　　"He’sallright，"continuedG。Selden。"I’mreadytoseparatemyselffromonefiftyanytimeIseeanewbookofhis。He’sgotthegoodswithhim。"
　　TherichnessofcolloquialismmovedthevicarofMountDunstantodeepenjoyment。
　　"Wouldyoumind——Itrustyouwon’t，"heapologisedcourteously，"tellingmeexactlythesignificanceofthosetwolastsentences。InthinkIseetheirmeaning，but————"
　　G。Seldenlookedgood—naturedlyapologetichimself。
　　"Well，it’sslang——yousee，"heexplained。"IguessIcan’thelpit。You——"flushingatrifle，butwithoutanytouchofresentmentintheboyishcolour，"youknowwhatsortofachapIam。I’mnotpassingmyselfoffasanythingbutanordinarybusinesshustler，amI——justundersalesmantoatypewriterconcern？Ishouldn’tliketothinkI’dgotinhereonanybluff。IguessIslinginslangeveryhalfdozenwords————。"
　　"Mydearboy，"Penzancewasabsolutelymovedandhespokewithwarmthquitepaternal，"LordMountDunstanandIaregenuinelyinterested——genuinely。He，becauseheknowsNewYorkalittle，andIbecauseIdon’t。Iamanelderlyman，andhavespentmylifeburiedinmybooksindrowsyvillages。Praygoon。YourAmericanslanghasfrequentlyadelightfulmeaning——afantastichilarity，orcommonsense，orphilosophy，hiddeninitsorigin。InthatitgenerallydiffersfromEnglishslang，which——Iregrettosay——isusuallyfoundedonsomesillycatchword。Praygoon。WhenyouseeanewbookbyMr。Kipling，youarereadyto`separateyourselffromonefifty’becausehe`hasthegoodswithhim。’"
　　G。Seldensuppressedaninvoluntaryyounglaugh。
　　"Onedollarandfiftycentsisusuallythepriceofabook，"
　　hesaid。"Youseparateyourselffromitwhenyoutakeitoutofyourclothes——Imeanoutofyourpocket——andpayitoverthecounter。"
　　"There’sacarelesshumourinit，"saidMountDunstangrimly。"Thesuggestionofpartingisnothalfbad。Onthewhole，itissubtle。"
　　"Agreatdealofitissubtle，"saidPenzance，"thoughitallprofessestobeobvious。Theothersentencehasacommercialsound。"
　　"Whenamangoesaboutsellingforaconcern，"saidthejuniorassistantofJones，"hecanprovewhathesays，ifhehasthegoodswithhim。Iguessitcamefromthat。
　　Idon’tknow。Ionlyknowthatwhenamanisastraightsortoffellow，andcanshowup，wesayhe’sgotthegoodswithhim。"
　　Theysatafterlunchinthelibrary，beforeanopenwindow，lookingintoalovelysunkengarden。Blossomswerebreakingoutoneveryside，androbins，thrushes，andblackbirdschirpedandtrilledandwhistled，asMountDunstanandPenzanceledG。Seldenontopaintfurtherpicturesforthem。
　　Someofthemwereratherpainful，Penzancethought。Asconnectedwithyouth，theyheldatouchofpathosSeldenwasallunconsciousof。Hehadhadahardlife，madeup，sincehistenthyear，ofstrugglestoearnhisliving。Hehadsoldnewspapers，hehadrunerrands，hehadsweptouta"candystore。"Hehadhadafewyearsatthepublicschool，andafewmonthsatabusinesscollege，towhichhewentatnight，afterworkhours。Hehadbeen"upagainstitgoodandplenty，"hetoldthem。Heseemed，however，tohavehadaknackofmakingfriendsandofgivingthem"aboostalong"
　　whensuchachancewaspossible。Bothofhislistenersrealisedthatagoodmanypeoplehadlikedhim，andthereasonwasapparentenoughtothem。
　　"Whenachapgetssorryforhimself，"heremarkedonce，"he’sdownandout。That’sastone—coldfact。There’slotsofhard—luckstoriesthatyou’vegottohearanyhow。Thefellowthatcankeephistohimselfisthefellowthat’slikelytogetthere。"
　　"Getthere？"thevicarmurmuredreflectively，andSeldenchuckledagain。
　　"Getwherehestartedouttogoto——theWhiteHouse，ifyoulike。Thefellowsthathavegottherekepttheirhard—
　　luckstoriesquiet，Ibet。Guessmostof’emhadplentyduringelection，iftheywerethekindtolieawakesobbingontheirpillowsbecausetheirfeelingswerehurt。"
　　Hehadneverbeensorryforhimself，itwasevident，thoughitmustbeadmittedthatthereweremomentswhentheelderlyEnglishclergyman，whosemostseriousencountershadbeenannoyinginterviewswithcottagersofdisrespectfulmanner，rathershudderedasheheardhissimplerecitalofdayswhenhehadtrampedstreetafterstreet，carryinghiscataloguewithhim，andtryingtotellhisstoryoftheDelkofftofranticallybusymenwhoweredrivenmadbytheimportunatesightofhim，toworried，ill—temperedoneswhobrokeintofurywhentheyheardhisvoice，andtosavagebruteswhowereonlyrestrainedbylawfromkickinghimintothestreet。
　　"You’vegottotakeit，ifyoudon’twanttoloseyourjob。
　　Someofthem’sastiredasyouare。Sometimes，ifyoucangive’emajollyandmake’emlaugh，they’lllisten，andyoumayunloadamachine。Butit’snomerryjestjustatfirst——
　　particularlyinbadweather。ThefirstfiveweeksIwaswiththeDelkoffInevermadeasale。Hadtoliveonmytenper，andthat’sprettyhardinNewYork。Threeandahalfforyourhallbedroom，andtherestforyourhashandshoes。
　　ButIheldon，andgraduallyluckbegantoturn，andIbegannottocaresomuchwhenamangaveittomehot。"
　　ThevicarofMountDunstanhadneverheardofthe"hallbedroom"asaninstitution。Adozenunconscioussentencesplaceditbeforehismentalvision。Hethoughtithorriblytouching。Anarrowroomatthebackofacheaplodginghouse，abed，astripofcarpet，awashstand——thisthesolerefugeofamalehumancreature，inthefloodtideofyouth，nomorethanthistocomebacktonightly，footsoreandresentfulofsoul，afteraday’strampspentinforcinghimselfandhiswaresonpeoplewhodidnotwanthimorthem，andwhofoundinfinitevarietyintheforcefulnessoftheirmethodofsayingso。
　　"Whatyouknow，whenyougointoaplace，isthatnobodywantstoseeyou，andnoonewillletyoutalkiftheycanhelpit。Theonlythingistogetinandrattleoffyourstuntbeforeyoucanbefiredout。"
　　Sometimesatfirsthehadgonebackatnighttothehallbedroom，andsatontheedgeofthenarrowbed，swinginghisfeet，andaskinghimselfhowlonghecouldholdout。Buthehadheldout，andevidentlydevelopedintoagoodsalesman，beingboldandofimperturbablegoodspiritsandtemper，andnottroubledbyhypersensitiveness。Hearingofthe"hallbedroom，"thecoldnessofitinwinter，andthebreathlessheatinsummer，theutterlonelinessofitatalltimesandseasons，onecouldnothavefeltsurpriseifthegrown—upladdoomedtoitsnarrownessashomehadbeendrawnintotheelectric—lightedgaietyofBroadway，andbeingcaughtinitsmaelstrom，hadbeensuckedundertoitslowestdepths。ButitwastobeobservedthatG。Seldenhadacleareye，andahealthyskin，andahealthyyounglaughyet，whichwereallwonderfullytohiscredit，andaddedenormouslytoone’slikingforhim。
　　"Doyouuseatypewriter？"hesaidatlasttoMr。
　　Penzance。"Itwouldcutouthalfyourworkwithyoursermons。
　　Ifyoudouseone，I’djustliketocallyourattentiontotheDelkoff。It’sthemostup—to—datemachineonthemarketto—day，"drawingoutthecatalogue。
　　"Idonotuseone，andIamextremelysorrytosaythatIcouldnotaffordtobuyone，"saidMr。Penzancewithconsideratecourtesy，"butdotellmeaboutit。IamafraidI
　　neversawatypewriter。"
　　Itwasthemosthospitablethinghecouldhavedone，andwasofthetactofcourts。Hearrangedhispincenez，andtakingthecatalogue，appliedhimselftoit。G。Selden’ssoulwarmedwithinhim。Tobelistenedtolikethis。Tobetreatedasagentlemanbyagentleman——by"afineoldswelllikethis——Hullygee！"
　　"Thisisn’twhatI’musedto，"hesaidwithgenuineenjoyment。"Itdoesn’tmatter，yournotbeingreadytobuynow。Youmaybesometime，oryoumayrunupagainstsomeonewhois。LittleWillie’salwaysreadytosayhispiece。"
　　Hepoureditforthwithglee——theimprovedmechanicalappliances，thecutsinthecatalogue，theplatenroller，theribbonswitch，thetwenty—sixyardsofredorbluetyping，thefiftypercent。savinginribbonexpenditurealone，thenewbasketshift，thestationarycarriage，thetabulator，thesuperioritytoallothertypewritingmachines——thepriceonehundreddollarswithoutdiscount。AndbothMountDunstanandMr。Penzancelistenedentranced，examinedcutsinthecatalogue，askedquestions，andinfactendedbyfindingthattheymustrepressanactualdesiretopossesstheluxury。ThejoytheirattitudebestoweduponSeldenwasthethinghewouldfeelgavethefinishingtouchtothehourswhichhewouldrecalltotheendofhisdaysasthe"timeofhislife。"
　　Yes，bygee！hewashaving"thetimeofhislife。"
　　Laterhefoundhimselffeeling——asMissVanderpoelhadfelt——ratherasifthewholethingwasadream。Thiscameuponhimwhen，withMountDunstanandPenzance，hewalkedthroughtheparkandthecuriouslybeautifuloldgardens。
　　Thelovely，soundlessquiet，brokenintoonlybybirdnotes，orhiscompanions’voices，hadanextraordinaryeffectonhim。
　　"It’ssostillyoucanhearit，"hesaidonce，stoppinginavelvet，moss—coveredpath。"Seemslikeyou’vegotquietshutuphere，andyou’veturneditontilltheair’sthickwithit。GoodLord，thinkoflittleoldBroadwaykeepingitup，andtheLwhizzingandthunderingalongeverythreeminutes，justthesame，whilewe’restandinghere！Youcan’tbelieveit。"
　　Itwouldhavegonehardwithhimtodescribetothemthevalueofhisenjoyment。Againandagaintherecamebacktohimthememoryofthegrandmotherwhoworetheblacknetcaptrimmedwithpurpleribbons。ApparentlyshehadremainedtothelastalmostcontumaciouslyBritish。ShehadkeptphotographsofQueenVictoriaandthePrinceConsortonherbedroommantelpiece，andhadmadecaustic，internationalcomparisons。Butshehadseenplaceslikethis，andherstoriesbecamerealitiestohimnow。Butshehadneverthoughtofthepossibilityofanychanceofhisbeingshownaboutbythelordofthemanorhimself——lunching，bygee！andtalkingtothemabouttypewriters。Hevaguelyknewthatifthegrandmotherhadnotemigrated，andhehadbeenborninDunstanvillage，hewouldnaturallyhavetouchedhisforeheadtoMountDunstanandthevicarwhentheypassedhimintheroad，andconversationbetweenthemwouldhavebeenanunlikelything。SomehowthingshadbeenchangedbyDestiny——
　　perhapsforthewholeofthem，asyearshadpassed。
　　Whathefeltwhenhestoodinthepicturegalleryneitherofhiscompanionscouldatfirstguess。Heceasedtotalk，andwanderedsilentlyabout。Secretlyhefoundhimselfatrifleawedbybeinglookeddownuponbytheunchangingeyesofmeninstrange，richgarments——incorslet，ruff，anddoublet，velvet，powder，curledlovelocks，brocadeandlace。Thefaceoflong—deadlovelinesssmiledoutfromitscanvas，orwithhelditselfhaughtilyfromhissalesman’sgaze。Wonderfulbarewhiteshoulders，andbosomsclaspedwithgemsorflowersandlace，defiedhimtorecallanytreasuresofBroadwaytocomparewiththem。Elderlydames，garbedinstiffsplendour，heldstiff，unsympatheticinquiryintheireyes，astheylookedbackuponhim。Whatexactlywasathirtyshillingbicyclesuitdoingthere？IntheDelkoff，plainlynonewereinterested。
　　Apretty，masqueradingshepherdess，withalambandacrook，seemedtolaughathimfromunderherbroadberibbonedstrawhat。Afterlookingatherforaminuteorso，hegaveahalflaughhimself——butitwasanawkwardone。
　　"She’salooker，"heremarked。"They’realotofthemlookers——notall——butafairshow————"
　　"Alooker，"translatedMountDunstaninalowvoicetoPenzance，"means，Ibelieve，ayoungwomenwithgoodlooks——abeauty。"
　　"Yes，sheISalooker，bygee，"saidG。Selden，"but——
　　but——"theawkwardhalflaugh，takingonadepressedtouchofsheepishness，"shemakesmefeel’wayoff——theyalldo。"
　　Thatwasit。Surroundedbythem，hewasfascinatedbutnotcheered。Theywereallsosmilingly，ordisdainfully，orindifferentlyunconsciousoftheexistenceofthehumanthingofhisclass。Hisaspect，hislife，andhisdesireswereasremoteasthoseofprehistoricman。HisBroadway，hisL
　　railroad，hisDelkoff——whatweretheywheredidtheycomeintotheschemeoftheUniverse？TheysilentlygazedandlightlysmiledorfrownedTHROUGHhimashestood。Hewasprobablynotintheleastawarethatheratherloudlysighed。
　　"Yes，"hesaid，"theymakemefeel’wayoff。I’mnotinit。Butsheisalooker。Getontothatdimpleinhercheek。"
　　MountDunstanandPenzancespenttheafternoonindoingtheirbestforhim。Hewaswellworthit。Mr。Penzancewasfilledwithdelight，andsaturatedwiththeatmosphereofNewYork。
　　"Ifeel，"hesaid，softlypolishinghiseyeglassesandalmostaffectionatelysmiling，"IreallyfeelasifIhadbeenwalkingdownBroadwayorFifthAvenue。IbelievethatImightfindmywayto——well，supposewesayWeber&Field’s，"andG。
　　Seldenshoutedwithglee。
　　Neverbefore，infact，hadhefelthisheartsowarmedbyspontaneousaffectionasitwasbythiselderly，somewhatbaldandthin—facedclergymanoftheChurchofEngland。Thishehadneverseenbefore。Withoutthetrainedsubtletytohaveexplainedtohimselfthefinelysweetandsimplygraciousdeepsofit，hewasmovedanduplifted。Hewasgladhehad"comeacross"it，hefeltavagueregretatpassingonhisway，andleavingitbehind。Hewouldhavelikedtofeelthatperhapshemightcomeback。HewouldhavelikedtopresenthimwithaDelkoff，andteachhimhowtorunit。HehaddelightedinMountDunstan，andrejoicedinhim，buthehadratherfalleninlovewithPenzance。CertainAmericandoubtshehadhadofthesolidityandpermanencyofEngland’spositionandpowerweresomewhatmodified。Whenfellowslikethesetwostoodatthefirstrank，littleoldEnglandwasaprettysafeproposition。
　　Aftertheyhadgivenhimteaamongthescentsandsongsofthesunkengardenoutsidethelibrarywindow，theysethimonhisway。Theshadowswerelengtheningandthesunlightfallingindeepeninggoldwhentheywalkeduptheavenueandshookhandswithhimatthebigentrancegates。
　　"Well，gentlemen，"hesaid，"you’vetreatedmegrand——asfineassilk，anditwon’tbelikeLittleWillietoforgetit。
　　WhenIgobacktoNewYorkit’llbeallIcandotokeepfromgettingtheswellheadandbraggingaboutit。I’veenjoyedmyselfdowntotheground，everyminute。I’mnotthekindoffellowtobelikelytobeabletopayyoubackyourkindness，but，hullygee！ifIcouldI’ddoittobeattheband。
　　Good—bye，gentlemen——andthankyou——thankyou。"
　　Acrosswhichoneoftheirmindspassedthethoughtthatthesoundofthehollowimpactofatrottinghorse’shoofsontheroad，whicheachthatmomentbecameconsciousofhearingwasthesoundoftheadvancingfootofFate？Itcrossednomindamongthethree。Therewasnoreasonwhyitshould。
　　Andyetatthatmomentthemeaningoftheregular，stirringsoundwasafatefulthing。
　　"Someoneonhorseback，"saidPenzance。
　　Hehadscarcelyspokenbeforeroundthecurveoftheroadshecame。Afinelyslenderandspiritedlyerectgirl’sfigure，uponasatin—skinnedbrightchestnutwithathoroughbredgait，asmartgroomridingbehindher。Shecametowardsthem，wasabreastthem，lookedatMountDunstan，asmilingdimplenearherlipasshereturnedhisquicksalute。
　　"MissVanderpoel，"hesaidlowtothevicar，"LadyAnstruther’ssister。"
　　Mr。Penzance，replacinghisownhat，lookedafterherwithsurprisedpleasure。
　　"Really，"heexclaimed，"MissVanderpoel！Whatafinegirl！Howunusuallyhandsome！"
　　Seldenturnedwithagaspofdelighted，amazedrecognition。
　　"MissVanderpoel，"heburstforth，"ReubenVanderpoel’sdaughter！Theonethat’soverherevisitinghersister。Isitthatone——sure？"
　　"Yes，"fromMountDunstanwithoutfervour。"LadyAnstrutherslivesatStornham，aboutsixmilesfromhere。"
　　"Gee，"withfeverishregret。"Ifherfatherwasthere，andIcouldgetnexttohim，myfortunewouldbemade。"
　　"Shouldyou，"venturedPenzancepolitely，"endeavourtosellhimatypewriter？"
　　"Atypewriter！Holysmoke！I’dtrytosellhimtenthousand。A
　　fellowlikethatsyndicatestheworld。IfIcouldgetnexttohim————"andhemountedhisbicyclewithalaugh。
　　"Getnext，"murmuredPenzance。
　　"Getonthegoodsideofhim，"MountDunstanmurmuredinreply。
　　"Solong，gentlemen，good—bye，andthankyouagain，"calledG。Seldenashewheeledoff，andwascarriedsoundlesslydownthegoldenroad。
　　CHAPTERXXIV
　　THEPOLITICALECONOMYOFSTORNHAM
　　Thesatin—skinnedchestnutwasoneofthenewhorsesnowstandingintheStornhamstables。Therewereseveralofthem——apairforthelandau，saddlehorses，smartyoungcobsforphaetonordogcart，aponyforUghtred——theanimalsnecessaryatsuchaplaceatStornham。Thestablesthemselveshadbeenquicklyputinorder，groomsandstableboyskeptthemastheyhadnotbeenkeptforyears。Themenlearnedinaweek’stimethattheirworkcouldnotbedonetoowell。
　　Therewerenewcarriagesaswellashorses。TheyhadcomefromLondonafterLadyAnstruthersandhersisterreturnedfromtown。Thehorseshadbeenbroughtdownbytheirgrooms——immenselylookedafter，blanketed，hooded，andaltogethercaredforasiftheywerevisitingdukesandduchesses。
　　Theywereallfine，handsome，carefullychosencreatures。
　　WhentheydancedandsidledthroughthevillageontheirwaytotheCourt，theycreatedasensation。Whosoeverhadchosenthemhadknownhisbusiness。TheoldervehicleshadbeenrepairedinthevillagebyTread，anddidhimcredit。
　　Foxhadalsodonehisworkwell。
　　Plentymoreofithadcomeintotheirwork—shops。Toolstobeusedontheestate，gardenimplements，wheelbarrows，lawnrollers，thingsneededaboutthehouse，stables，andcottages，weretobeattendedto。Thechurchroofwasbeingrepaired。Takingallthesethingsandthe"doingup"oftheCourtitself，therewasmoreworkthanthevillagecouldmanage，andcarpenters，bricklayers，anddecoratorswerenecessarilybroughtfromotherplaces。StillJoeButtleandSimSoameswereallowedtoleadinallsuchthingsaslaywithintheircapabilities。Itwastheywhomadesuchasplendidjoboftheentrancegatesandthelodges。Itwasastonishinghowmuchwasdone，andhowthesenseoflifeintheair——theworkofresultingprosperity，mademenbegintotreadwithlesslistlessstepsastheywenttoandfromtheirlabour。Inthecottagesthingswerebeingdonewhichmadedowncastwomenbestirthemselvesandlooklessslatternly。Leaksmendedhere，windowsthere，thehopelesscopperinthetinywashhousereplacedbyanewone，chimneyscuredofthehabitofsmoking，aclean，floweredpaperputonawall，acoatofwhitewash——
　　theyweresmallmatters，butproducedgreateffect。
　　Bettyhadbeguntodropintothecottages，andmaketheacquaintanceoftheirowners。Herfirstvisits，sheobserved，createdgreatconsternation。Womenlookedfrightenedorsullen，childrenstaredandrefusedtospeak，clingingtoskirtsandaprons。Shefoundtheatmosphereclearafterhersecondvisit。Thewomenbegantotalk，andthechildrencollectedingroupsandlistenedwithcheerfulgrins。ShecouldpickuplittleJane’skitten，orgiveapattosmallThomas’mongreldog，inamannerwhichthrewdownbarriers。
　　"Don’tputoutyourpipe，"shesaidtooldGrandfatherDoby，risingtotteringlyrespectfulfromhischimney—sidechair。
　　"Youhaveonlyjustlightedit。Youmustn’twasteawholepipefuloftobaccobecauseIhavecomein。"
　　Theoldman，grownchildishwithage，titteredandshuffledandgiggled。Suchajokeasthegrandyoungladywashavingwithhim。Shesawhehadonlyjustlightedhispipe。
　　Thegentryjokedabitsometimes。Buthewasafraidofhisgrandson’swife，whowasfrowningandshakingherhead。
　　Bettywenttohim，andputherhandonhisarm。
　　"Sitdown，"shesaid，"andIwillsitbyyou。"Andshesatdownandshowedhimthatshehadbroughtapackageoftobaccowithher，andactuallyawonderofaredandyellowjartoholdit，atthesightofwhichunheard—ofjoyshisrapturewassogreatthathistremblinghandscouldscarcelyclasphistreasures。